UNTAES HOPES FOR NO MARKING OF NOV 18 BY EITHER SIDE

OSIJEK, Nov 13 (Hina) - On November 18, UNTAES expected both sides to refrain from marking that date, spokesman for the UN Temporary Administration in Eastern Slavonia, Philip Arnold, told an Osijek press conference on Wednesday. That date is the fifth anniversary of the fall of Vukovar into the hands of JNA and Serb paramilitary formations in 1991. Asked whether UNTAES would fulfill the request of Croatian volunteers and Homeland War veterans to visit Vukovar on that date, Arnold said that would not be possible. According to Arnold, neither Gen. Klein nor indeed his office were satisfied with the media coverage of events occurring in the area administered by UNTAES. The word "Chetnik" could still be read in newspapers, while TV stations sometimes broadcast features dealing with the events of 1991, 1992 and 1993, which, in Arnold's opinion, exemplified the antagonism between the media on the two sides. On the other hand, Arnold voiced satisfaction with yesterday's celebration marking the anniversary of the signing of the Erdut Agreement. Arnold also shared some personal cogitations on a recent meeting between Croatian President Franjo Tudjmnan and representatives of local authorities in the area administered by UNTAES. That meeting had been very important because it adressed ethnic issues, education and the involvement of local young men in the Croatian army, Arnold said. He described the meeting as sincere and correct, noting that the local Serb representative, Vojislav Stanimirovic, had expressed satisfaction with discussing these problems with his President. Answering reporters' questions, Arnold confirmed that UNTAES was working toward a takeover of the so-called Baranja triangle (north-eastern part of the occupied area) by the Croatian government. This, however, depended on the cooperativeness of both sides, he said. Meanwhile, the military and civil police presence was stregthened in Dalj following two recent incidents involving explosives. In one instance, an explosive device was planted in the garden of a Serbian house; in the other, explosive was thrown at a house rented by two UNTAES officials, Arnold said. Nobody was injured in either incident. (hina) jn as 132101 MET nov 96